Havana, December 18 (JIT)-- INDER authorities today announced Cuba's best athletes for the year 2023.

The extensive list is headed by canoeist Yarisleydi Cirilo, wrestler Luis Orta, softball player Yilian Tornés and beach volleyball player Jorge Luis Alayo.

Wrestling deserved the condition of individual sport of the season in the island, and beach volleyball reigned among the collective ones and with the best team, precisely the one formed by Alayo and Noslen Díaz.

The pelotari Cristian Abreu won the condition of rookie of the year and the tennis players, with their remarkable results, starred in the event of the year.

The awards gala will take place on December 26 at the Havana Sports City Coliseum.

BEST ATHLETES OF THE YEAR 2023

Most outstanding team: beach volleyball (m).

Best individual sport: wrestling.

Best in individual sports: Yarisleydi Cirilo (canoeing) and Luis Orta (wrestling).

Best in collective sports: Yilian Tornés (softball) and Jorge Luis Alayo (beach volleyball). Mention: Miguel Ángel López (volleyball).

Rookie of the year: Cristian Abreu (Basque pelota).

Non-individual event: table tennis mixed doubles (Jorge Campos and Daniela Fonseca).

Top 10: Julio César La Cruz (boxing), Idalys Ortiz (judo), Leyanis Pérez (athletics), Oscar Pino (wrestling), Gabriel Rosillo (wrestling), Lázaro Martínez (athletics), Andy Granda (judo), Leuris Pupo (shooting), Arlenis Sierra (cycling) and José Ramón Pelier (canoeing).

HIGHLIGHTS IN OTHER CATEGORIES

Event of the year: table tennis results.

Outstanding contract: Raidel Martínez (baseball).

Mentions (gold medalists in San Salvador 2023 and Santiago 2023). Athletics: Rose Mary Almanza, Yunisleydi García, Yarima García, Zurian Hechavarría, Laura Moreira, Enis Pérez and Lisneydi Veitía. Judo: Maylín del Toro, Idelannis Gómez, Orlando Polanco, Magdiel Estrada and Iván Silva. Weightlifting: Arley Calderón. Wrestling: Daniel Grégorich, Yusneylis Guzmán, Alejandro Valdés and Yurieski Torreblanca. Rowing: Reydi Cardona, Carlos Ajete, Leduar Suárez and Roberto Paz. Table tennis: Andy Pereira.

Mentions (world medalists). Athletics: Cristian Nápoles.Boxing: Erislandy Álvarez, Saidel Horta, Fernando Arzola, Alejandro Claro and Yosbany Veitía.

Mention: Baseball team, fourth place in the V World Baseball Classic.

Best community projects: Venga la Esperanza and Wushu Barrio Chino de La Habana.

Outstanding in the Central American and Caribbean School Games of Venezuela 2023: Yanet Coronado (judo) and José M. Fernández (wrestling).

Outstanding in special sports: Lemay Gutiérrez (underwater) and Johen Lefont (ball control).

OUTSTANDING IN SPORTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Most outstanding of the year: Robiel Yankiel Sol (para-athletics).

Most outstanding female: Omara Durand (para-athletics).

Most outstanding male: Ulicer Aguilera Cruz (parathletics).

The 10 most outstanding parathletes: Sheyla Hernández (judo), Yuset Montejo (wrestling), Yenigladys Suárez (shooting), Yunier Fernández (table tennis), Yordani Fernández (judo), Daniel Milanés (athletics), Ever René Castro (athletics), Guillermo Varona (athletics), Di Ángelo Lóriga (shooting) and Michel Ernesto Suárez (taekwondo).Mention: Manuel Alejandro del Rosario (badminton).

BEST REFEREES

National: Dirtho M. Fernández Cabrera (volleyball).

International: Luis E. Charadán Pierre (badminton).